FrenchConnection44
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Posts posted by FrenchConnection44
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7 minutes ago, Thorny said:
It’s less about age (though 6 months is still notable) and more about experience.
Historically speaking, players putting up merely point a game as 2 year overagers in the CHL isn’t very noteworthy. This is just a fact. By overagers I mean this is the second season, post draft, that Bloom is playing against a bunch of guys most of whom won’t sniff the NHL. He’s been there for a long time. Covid will have limited games but that’s relative and most players were affected. If he has any NHL shot at all, he SHOULD dominate.
Im glad he is. It keeps him in the running for being a mainstay NHLer one day
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Not really sure where Savoie comes into the discussion - there’s no comparison between him and Bloom as prospects. That’s not an argument I personally need to make
I also expect Savoie to dominate the CHL being a post-drafted player, Bloom is just another season on in that equation.
I brought up Savoie because you made the comparison of Bloom having an advantage over him in terms of age, experience and playing lesser competition. Wasn't my comp; it was yours 😊. Savoie has played in a comparable league (WHL) the past two years just as Bloom has. So there is no difference between the two in terms of either leagues or experience in those leagues.
The only measurable difference is one is a few months older in age and as a result became draft eligible a year earlier by just making the cut off, where as the other didn't. If you want to say that's a big deal, fine. I don't really think that is the case.
I noted also that I wasn't arguing a comp in terms of prospective talent. Simply that the other comparisons made (level of competition; experience against comparable competition; and age) are a virtual wash and therefore meaningless (though Bloom's top level competition is actually more mature than Savoie's, so there is that).
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17 hours ago, Crusader1969 said:
His save percentage is. .950???
16 hours ago, Flashsabre said:I think those are his numbers for in conference games. Overall he has 12 wins, 2.37 gaa and a .926 sv% overall.
Yes, the article indicated they were conference numbers.
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22 hours ago, Thorny said:
Not sweating it too much for the reason @Weavementioned, but I really hope he does. It’s true we talk a lot of the F prospects but really after the Kulich, Savoie, Rosen type guys..when you hear about guys like Bloom, putting up point a game, in junior, as a 2nd year post draft player, it’s really not that noteworthy of a development. If you want to be an NHL mainstay one day, putting up good offensive numbers against a bunch of kids you are older than in a league you are too good for is sort of a prerequisite. If he wasn’t point a game he wouldn’t even be on any kind of radar at all. It’s step 1. Can guys like that carve out a depth role one day? Sure. And I like him as a depth prospect certainly. *All* teams have those guys, though.
Again, where we separate is the Rosen, Savoie, Kulich Top end F prospects in system, and getting back to Johnson, he’s a superior prospect to the other Fs there and so to me the next level priority after the top Fs and Levi.
There is a twofold problem here on what arguing about Bloom and, say, Savoie. Not arguing Savoie may not be the better prospect.
But, first, there is on going debate over which league is better - WHL (Savoie) vs OHL (Bloom). Both are comparable. And even the QMJHL (several prospects there) is somewhat comparable. Their champion won the CHL cup over the WHL and OHL champions last year, though most point to stronger depth in the OHL as the stronger league.
Second, Bloom and Savoie are virtually the same age - both are 19; Bloom is 6 months older - and Bloom isn't going against younger players than Savoie. Simply because he was drafted prior to Savoie due to eligibility doesn't really mean anything. And, in fact, the vast majority of leading scorers in the OHL are drafted and in the 19-20 year old range, whereas in the WHL the top of the heap are not drafted and are age 17-18. So Savoie is often going against less mature players than Bloom.
That distinction you're drawing between the two is meaningless with respect to age or experience or competition. If anything it favors Bloom as having tougher competition.
And then there is Johnson who is 21 playing against a lot of 18-19-20 year olds in the NCAA - which, granted, is a stronger league than the Canadian leagues. Still, he's up there in age, relative to a lot of his competition, and yet is not dominating at that level. Good player. But not a superstar.
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On 1/25/2023 at 12:23 PM, Doohickie said:
I was looking at the depth chart and defense is really a "cupboard is bare" situation. If we don't sign Johnson we really don't have any prospects that are anywhere near NHL ready (even Johnson needs some seasoning). But thinking of Savoie, Kullich, Östlund, Rousek, Bloom, Nadeau, etc., there is literally no one like that who plays defense in the system.
Agreed.
Which is why I mention Komarov as a prospect at age 19 (Johnson still needs seasoning and is 21).
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Gonna be a tough one. But we have won some big road games this season, sooo ….
Will be interesting to see how the Sabres handle the size and physical play of the Jets. Would love to have one or two talented forwards with the kind of size / physicality the Jets bring to the table.
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A lot of talk about the forwards (and Levi) - Savoie, Kulich, Bloom, Nadeau - and rightfully so; like all those guys.
Defensively, there aren't as many candidates in the system. Ryan Johnson is the premier draft pick - we shall see how he does at Minnesota and he is 21 already. No big deal really, some players develop a bit later.
But one player I am looking out for is Komarov - in the Quebec league. Just turned 19 a couple of weeks ago. Good size and seems to be playing quite well.
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Levi gets back to back goaltender of the week:
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4 hours ago, Doohickie said:
You know what's nice? Almost forgetting who the 7D is. That's nice.
Starting to see the young team develop. I like where we are.
At goalie, I feel good with Luukko, especially with Levi on the rise.
We really do need a 6th defenseman. Komarov (19) is looking very good (+33) although he's on a very good team.
Could use a couple of forwards. This really isn't trying to be negative on Mittlestadt, but I'd like to see another forward with some size, who can be a bit physical and still be offensive alongside Jost and Krebs (and eventually getting Savoie and Kulich up will add to the center/forward position). Olofsson is a sniper. I think Nadeau (20) and Bloom (19) are great candidates for forwards on the 3rd/4th lines.
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Another clutch goaltending night! UPL has really been good (can't believe some had all but given up on the guy early in the season). He's showing the potential many scouts, not just the Sabres, saw in him early on. And he is still young and has plenty of upside. If we can keep Anderson in the fold another year-plus, that may give time for Levi to come in and let UPL be the starter with the heavier load as Levi adjusts.
We continue to play pretty sloppy in our own end and at center ice - giving up too many chances. Can't do that against teams with strong scorers. Gotta keep working on staying focused on puck control and crisp passing. Get some of that sloppiness shored up and it's an even better team.
Great to see Tage get a goal and Power and another goal. Some great passes on our first 3 goals.
Love watching this team. )
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Our young team has had trouble bouncing back on back to back games without rest. Especially after a tough game. This will be tough on the road. Hard to predict. Really have to bring the energy. I don’t think it will be easy to get a W. If we do that would be another step in maturity.
Would love to see Tage get a goal and get out of his funk. He’s been solid setting others up though, which is great to see. But all the lines gotta bring it.
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Anderson’s extraordinary goaltending last night also puts the lie to using save percentage as the be all end all for goaltending. It is valuable over time. But given how many chances we give up it’s a bit skewed. There is no substitute for video. 31 shots, 29 saves, but it felt like 3/4 of those saves were incredible scoring chances he took away. I doubt there has been a better single game performance by a goalie this year.
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22 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:
If you forecheck the heck out of any team, you will give them fits.
Well, the best teams are able to overcome that and get free. They need to do better in breaking free and scoring on odd man rushes and that will slow down those. But when they are able to forecheck without risking much or getting burned, then it will continue.
That’s the point. 🙄
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The way teams are figuring out to play the Sabres is to just forecheck the heck out of them. Dallas did that quite well. We really have trouble getting free from that and clearing the zone. And we have to cut down on the turnovers.
Talent wise, whether it happens this year or in the off season, along with another strong defenseman with size who can skate; and it really could use a physical, two-way forward, with size, who can score, forecheck, and play defense. If we added those two spots and if the rest of the team developed as expected … this team could be a genuine contender in another 1-2 yrs.
I like the centers - still young and developing. And a few on the way.
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Anderson was other worldly. Some of those onslaughts- especially at about three different junctures in the first period, were just insane. There were times it was hard to believe Dallas didn’t score. One of the best goaltending games I’ve seen.
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Savioe heating up.
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On 1/10/2023 at 4:45 PM, Refuting said:
Horvat and Schenn
Both would add physicality to the team.
But I would not give up much for them. Given they are loans. But I do have interest in Horvat in free agency. As long as we still get Dahlin and Cousins under long term deals.
Horvat adds something the Sabres don’t have. Physicality in a two way forward.
Schenn would also add that. And both are positive in the plus minus. I wonder about Schenn’s resurgence - is it the system? Or what?
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Let’s Go. Gotta come to play tonight.
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11 hours ago, North Buffalo said:
Sabres have trouble with physical teams like Flyers and Ottawa... need some hitting and grinding drills.. and being nasty in front of the net... yeh didnt help they came out flat... based on this performance their third/fourth line cant be the only one that can play a grind game... Cozens and young wingers tried but way to inexperienced on how to play that game against the flyer... Tage, Tuch and Skinner flat out no show.
The prime culprit this game was zero energy. Likely emotionally drained. That is a sign of a young team.
But you are right about physical teams. I don’t think anything will change that until some of these guys get stronger and more physical. Cousins, Power, Krebs, Quinn, even Mittelstadt, all need to add weight in muscle and strength in the off season (+8, +10 lb range). Power is listed at 215. He should be at 225-230 in 2-3 years and a physically intimidating force to be reckoned with (only 19 of course). And he needs to skate better and have more power in his lower half as well. Cousins is variously listed in the mid-high 180s. One listing has him in the low 190s. At 6’3 and the style of fame he plays he needs to be at least 205. If not 210. He’s only 21 still so a ways to go before his body matures.
The Sabres need to spend some money off ice in terms of training staff and systems for these guys to develop faster and become not only better players in their skill sets, but stronger and more physical.
The Flyers gave teams the blueprint for beating us. Granato has to see this need.
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They are just taking it to us physically and we can’t match them. And their goalie has been strong.
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1 hour ago, bunomatic said:
I just friggin love watching this team
This team is so great to watch. Incredibly exciting. Love their youth and fight.
Great team win. Still give up a lot on defense but Minnesota is a good team and even though we gave up 5 goals UPL made some huge saves.
How about that crowd as well? Loved the building.
Six games at home in the next few weeks.
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1 minute ago, Indabuff said:
Is Tage ahead of Eichel? That's all I need to know.
Yes. Easy-peasy.
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Tage is unbelievable. So good. Incredible shooter. Phenomenal stick handling.
And that play by Dahlin. So smooth.
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I am pumped about both Kulich and Bloom. Wouldn’t they make a nice line in the future?
Bloom is not playing at quite as high a level but he’s already 3rd in goals scored (14) for North Bay - behind other NHL drafted players (22 & 18 respectively) - in spite of the others playing 36 games and Bloom only 19. he also has a good sized frame once he fills it out (6’2, 183)
Kulich is proving himself at the international and minor league levels.-
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Sabres Prospects 2022-2023
in The Aud Club
Posted
I mentioned Bloom for the first time in that post (other than a post or two of highlights as I have with Savoie and others).
For the record: You came at me! lol.
Second, who played where prior to being drafted isn't a factor. You're arguing apples to oranges. If two kids of comparable age played on the same team and one was drafted at age 16, and the other at age 18 ... none of that would make a difference in terms of their calibre of competition.